Summer Vacation Is Over

Summer vacation is nearing its end for school children, teachers, and others who are fortunate enough to still have summer vacation. The end is particularly nigh in my part of the world, where schools will be back in session next week. A little early for my taste, but then, the classroom wasn't always my favorite place in the world.*

While the big break is nearing its end for the education world, it has reached its conclusion in the ZiggyBackRide world. After a long hiatus from writing on this site, the whole staff is back on the job, ready to fill you in on much that has happened in recent weeks and preparing to be your guide on the exciting journey that the remainder of 2008 is shaping up to be. The Olympic Games began today, a new college football season starts in three weeks, and Presidential campaign season is beginning in earnest. All of these are topics this blog has addressed in the past and these, among others, shall be covered as only ZiggyBackRide can cover them in the months to come.

Now, what have we missed in the time since ZBR's last stop?

In recent days, Morgan Freeman was involved in a serious accident that left him in critical condition in a Memphis hospital. The world-renowned actor and voiceover artist was driving a 1997 Nissan Maxima at the time of the crash. If you had been asked to guess what kind of car this entertainment superstar was driving, how many guesses would you say you'd have needed to land on 1997 Nissan Maxima? I would have needed at least 4!

Other Morgan Freeman accident-related facts that the staff here can now confirm are as follows:

- Morgan Freeman is well on the road to recovery and has been released from the hospital.
- Asked about his immediate plans as he left the hospital, Freeman mentioned that he had decided to "...get busy livin', rather than get busy dyin'." He added a note of sincere gratitude to the medical staff for what he called "a common thread of exceptional care."**
- The lady in the car with Mr. Freeman at the time of the accident was not, as popular conjecture originally held, Miss Daisy.
- Hospital staff have reported that Freeman, though fully anesthetized, narrated his entire surgery, offering up helpful and soothing commentary at every turn.***

We'll certainly keep you updated on any further developments. Check back soon for stunning news regarding Me and My Purple Car, my season in Jewish softball, comedy fun, and more.

* The classroom was never my favorite place in the world. Though I have always enjoyed learning, I would have been happy if school had started sometime after Easter... if it had to start at all.
** quotes based upon Freeman's lines in The Shawshank Redemption and commercials for LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, respectively.
*** See post . Though I joke, I'm glad he's doing better!